Cowan carves Derbyshire open

Australia A captain Ed Cowan continued his fine form in England with a hundred on the first day of three in the tour game with Derbyshire at the County Ground.

The Test opening batsman top-scored with 109 of his side’s 362 for four declared, which the hosts replied to with 57 for one by stumps.

Ed Cowan struck 109 from the top of the order before adventurously declaring on 362 for four. Derbyshire responded with 57 for one

Cowan has been on these shores longer than most of the squad thanks to a stint with Gloucestershire, for whom he hit 206 runs in four innings.

In the first of four tour matches the 30 year-old justified his decision to bat first courtesy of a 130-ball knock that featured 16 fours.

The left-hander added 109 with Peter Forrest, who made 52, before George Baily and Joe Burns bettered that by two during innings of 81 and 74 not out respectively.

Michael Klinger eased to 25 until falling to Mark Turner, but Cowan and Forrest combined prior to the latter’s departure to left-arm spinner David Wainwright signalled lunch on 144 for two.

Bailey supported his skipper, who went to three figures with a cut boundary, in an 85-run stand that ended when Wainwright had Cowan stumped.

The second century alliance, which was broken by Wainwright en route to 3-133 from 28 overs, occupied little more than 20 overs. Between them Bailey and Burns smashed 18 fours and five sixes.

Cowan adventurously declared, leaving the hosts 16 overs to bat during which they lost Matt Lineker to Mitchell Starc, who has been representing Yorkshire, for 22. Wayne Madsen, like Cowan skipper and opener, was unbeaten on 25 alongside nightwatchman Tony Palladino.